Today is Monday - Lord Shiva's Day; however it is also Amavasya - a day with special significance and potential for observances for the Dead (as we have covered in some of our previous pieces looking at the Libations to the Ancestors). What Amavasya means is the 'Dark' point of the Moon's 28-day cycle - … Continue reading Somavati Amavasya – Worship of Shiva and the Ancestors on the Monday of the Dark Moon
Hinduism
The Mytholinguistics Of The Smoking Breath
Within the Indo-European metaphysics we find not infrequent mention made for the 'Breath of Life'. On one level, this is just easy empirical deductionism. We see that a man lacking in the breath in his lungs is likely not long for this world. However, we also see that a man in a state of 'high … Continue reading The Mytholinguistics Of The Smoking Breath
Revanta – A Lord of the Wild Hunt
It is SUNDAY - The Day of the Sun ! And so therefore, we present a rather lesser-known 'Saura' ['Solar'] figure: Revanta, the Huntsman Son of Surya [Sun] - and, fittingly, accompanied by a further Hindu reflex of the Indo-European 'Wild Hunt' ! And we shall look at Them once again in due course - … Continue reading Revanta – A Lord of the Wild Hunt
Masik ShivRatri – First of 2022
Tonight is Masik Shivratri ['Monthly Night of Shiva'] On MahaShivRatri ['Great Night of Shiva'], we celebrate the glorious and blessed Reunification of Lord Shiva and His Wife, Devi Parvati. And while much attention deservedly goes toward MahaShivRatri, there are also 11 other ShivRatris throughout the year - one for each lunar month, observed on the … Continue reading Masik ShivRatri – First of 2022
Divine Play – The Unfurling Mythic Universe As Wargame And Drama In Nordic And Hindu Perception
As we move toward the close of 2021, there's something I feel is relevant to share. It uses the Binding of Fenrir as a framing device, but has a far broader saliency. And far more personal relevance and application. I've had a rather … difficult - indeed, downright tempestuous, in some respects - last few … Continue reading Divine Play – The Unfurling Mythic Universe As Wargame And Drama In Nordic And Hindu Perception
Bhairava & Kali For The Transition Of The Cycle Of Time On New Year’s Eve / Day
There are few situations which cannot be matched with a fine exemplar of the artwork of Abhishek Singh. In this case, he had chosen to depict Bhairava & Kali at the end of a Kalpa ('Cycle of Time'). He later refined the Bhairava into a full-colour work; yet I think that there is something immensely … Continue reading Bhairava & Kali For The Transition Of The Cycle Of Time On New Year’s Eve / Day
Kali & Ganesha For The End Of The Old Year & Beginning Of The New
As we creep inexorably forward toward the End of 2021 and the Beginning of 2022, this image seemed apt to post. Why? Because here we have Kali - Goddess of Time, and also of Endings ; and Her Son Ganesha - a God of Openings, and One Who is prayed to at Beginnings. Perhaps entirely … Continue reading Kali & Ganesha For The End Of The Old Year & Beginning Of The New
We Bow Before The Lion Throne
It is said of Devi Durga that She rules from the Lion Throne Hence our statements: "We Bow Before The Lion Throne", "We Serve The Lion Throne". And, of course, from the Lalita Sahasranama [The Thousand-Names (Sahasra-Nama) of The Goddess]: श्री महाराज्ञी , श्रीमत् सिंहासनेश्वरी , भुवनेश्वरी, देवी दुर्गा Sri MahaRajni , Srimat SinhAsanEshvari , … Continue reading We Bow Before The Lion Throne
Ganesha – The Modern Protector Of India
This is your occasional reminder that Hindu religious iconography also occasionally 'moves with the times' - as befits a Living Religion. [Which does not mean that the modern nor the novel 'displaces' the Past - only that there can be co-occurrence. And, as applies Ganesha specifically - remarkable ways for Him to continue to Get … Continue reading Ganesha – The Modern Protector Of India
The Eddic Mead of Poetry & Vedic ‘Fire Bird’ Agnicayana Soma Rite
Now, to explain what's going on here … This is one of those Vedic - Eddic strong concordancies. Concerning the Mead of Poetry, and Soma: what Griffith translated in RV I 14 as 'Meath' (the actual word he'd rendered thus appears to be Sanskrit 'Madhu' - Sweet - being used as a noun. Which is … Continue reading The Eddic Mead of Poetry & Vedic ‘Fire Bird’ Agnicayana Soma Rite
arya-akasha 